Groveport Madison prohibits cell phone use during school day ahead of statewide ban

GROVEPORT, Ohio (WCMH) -- Starting this fall, Groveport Madison students will no longer be allowed to use cell phones in schools.

The district announced the change on Thursday, telling parents and students that phones and other internet-connected devices must be turned off and out of sight during the school day. The district said there will be exceptions for emergencies or when use is specifically approved by school staff. The new policy affects all students K-12 and begins this upcoming school year.

“Over the past several years, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in distractions, conflicts, and disciplinary issues tied to phone use during school hours, particularly those related to social media and texting," the district said in a statement. "Research also shows that excessive screen time can negatively impact mental health, attention span and classroom engagement.”

Groveport Madison's cell phone ban requires students to be cell phone free for the entire school day, including lunch and other breaks from instruction. The district said they believe it will minimize conflicts and distractions and create a better learning environment.

The district said it is making the change to be in line with Senate Bill 158, which is not yet law but would ban cell phone use in schools. The Ohio Senate passed S.B. 158 on May 14, and the bill is awaiting further action in House committee hearings. See previous coverage of Ohio's proposed cell phone bans in the video player above.

Groveport Madison's change also preemptively ensures compliance with a new Ohio law that requires all districts to ban cell phones by Jan. 1, 2026. That requirement was included in Ohio's biennial budget bill, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law on June 30.

DeWine has been pushing for cell phone regulations like this for over a year. In 2024, he signed legislation that required all Ohio public school districts to limit cell phone use in school by the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Now, schools must implement full bans, with exceptions for emergencies and medical concerns.

Parents have raised concerns about students not having phones during emergencies or to help with medical issues, but Groveport Madison and the state legislator have adopted exceptions for those situations. Some parents also told NBC4 banning cell phone use infringes on parents' rights in education.

Groveport Madison said it made the decision alongside its Board of Education, district safety committee and a Parent and Student Advisory Committee. Despite feedback, the district said it anticipated the change would be an adjustment, and provided research supporting minimal cell phone use for parents to use in conversations with students.

According to the American Psychologists Association, too much screen time can be damaging for kids and teenagers. The APA said social media are built for adults, and they can be harmful for growing brains, especially as minors are still developing impulse control and various mental guardrails.

Groveport Madison now joins many other central Ohio districts that have full or partial cell phone bans on the books. Last summer, South Western and Whitehall school districts implemented similar bans to Groveport Madison's, and Dublin City Schools has been DeWine's poster child for cell phone ban effectiveness.

“As we went through this process in Dublin City Schools, we had near unanimous support from parents for banning cellphones from our schools,” Dublin Superintendent John Marschhausen said. “We are home to more than 90,000 residents and I’ve received one complaint.”

Groveport Madison's ban begins with the first day of school, which will be Aug. 11 for grades 1-6 and freshman in high school, and Aug. 12 for all other students.